Top drive spinning spindle



May 31, 1960 G. H. MAGRATH TOP DRIVE SPINNING SPINDLE Filed Oct. 6, 1959 IN VEN TOR.

GEORGE H. MAGRATH ATTORNEYS TOP DRIVE SPINNING SPINDLE George H. Magrath, 35 Spring St., Whitinsville, Mass.

Filed Oct. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 844,825

4 Claims. (Cl. 24246.3)

This invention relates to spinning and twisting machines and, more particularly, to a mechanism for centering and supporting the bobbin vertically about the spindle blade and whorl neck and driving the centered bobbin independently of the whorl or whorl neck. This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior copending application Serial No. 590,669, led .lune ll, 1956 and now abandoned.

Heretofore it has been the usual practice to seat the bobbin on the upper surface of the spindle whorl and drive the bobbin by means of clutching ngers circumposed about the spindle blade, as shown for example in my United Stataes Patent 2,528,066, granted October 31, 1950. Such constructions have proved eminently successful when operating up to speeds of the order of 10,000 r.p.m., but when operating at higher speeds objectional vibration is apt to take place. In modern spinning operations it is desirable to operate at speeds greatly in excess of 10,000 r.p.m. since an increased eciency is not only achieved, but a larger and more tightly wound package is obtained. However, at these higher speeds, there tends to be excessive vibration due to dynamic unbalance. It has been found that Where the bobbin is driven from its top and permitted a limited movement at its lower end, the bobbin will tend to seek its center of rotation during high speed driving and thus reduce, if not eliminate, vibration. However, where the top of the spindle blade is tapered and tits within a tapered recess in the bobbin, the desired self-centering of the bobbin tends to be prevented by the wedging engagement of the tapered blade within the tapered recess, which also impairs easy doing of the bobbin.

The principal objects of the present invention are to overcome the aforementioned difficulties and to provide a simple, eicient and reliable means for centering a bobbin on a spindle blade and driving the centered bobbin independently of the whorl or neck.

Another object is to provide a centering and driving means which may be applied to old constructions as well as to new equipment.

Further objects relate to various features of construction and will be apparent from a consideration of the following disclosure and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is an axial section through a spindle and bobbin constructed in accordance with the present invention;

te States Patent O Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the Nice Figs. ll, l2 and 13 are views corresponding to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, but showing another modification.

in accordance with the present invention my improved bobbin centering and driving mechanism comprises driv ing and driven members secured to or carried by the spindle blade and bobbin, respectively. `One of these members may be a cylindrical sleeve or bushing and the other of these members may comprise a tapered or conical-shaped part which telescopically extends into the bushing or other suitable means. The conical-shaped part engages the inner circumferential portion of the bushing in line contact and is otherwise spaced therefrom so as to provide a universal friction drive connection between the blade and bobbin which will serve to center the bobbin vertically on a spindle blade and also oppose downward axial displacement of the bobbin on the blade. While the line contact engagement of the conical member and bushing will provide a frictional driving connection therebetween, if desired the driving and driven member may carry or be associated with interengageable parts, the operation of which does not interfere with the centering of the bobbin or the maintaining of the bobbin in centered position. To this end, the upper part of the driving member and the lower part of the driven member may be formed or provided with positive clutching means which are readily disengageable when the package is doifed and readily brought into engagement when an empty bobbin is applied about the spindle blade.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, the embodiment shown therein comprises a spindle blade 1 having an upper end 2 of reduced diameter, the lower end of the spindle being of conventional construction and carried by a bolster such as shown, for example, in my Patent 2,097,797, granted November 2, 1937. Circumposed about the blade is a ller bobbin 4, which may be of wood, indurated libre or other suitable material, having a bore large enough to receive the spindle with adequate clearance. The lower end of the bobbin is enlarged to receive the acorn 5 of the spindle and is provided with the con- Ventional reinforcing rings 6.

The upper part fo the bobbin is formed with an annular shoulder against which is seated a conical metal driven member 8 having an upwardly extending stem 10, both parts having a common central bore 12 coaxial with the bobbin. The conical member 8 is secured by pins 14 or like fastening elements which project into the stem 10 but terminate short of the bore 12. The lower vend of the conical member 8 is formed with two diametrically extending slots 1S which cross at right angles. A cylindrical metal sleeve or bushing 16 has a press t about the reduced end l2 of the blade and its upper part carries a pair of inwardly extending, radially aligned pins or projections 18 spaced below its upper end a distance slightly less than the depth of the slots 15. As will be apparent from the drawings, the base diameter of the conical member 8 is greater than the inner diameter of the bushing 16.

When the bobbin 4 is applied about the spindle 1, the lower end of the conical member 'S enters the upper end of the bushing or cylindrical driving member 16 and one of the slots 15 receives the pins 18. The conical member 8 seats in frictional driving engagement on the upper end of the inner wall or circumferential portion of the bushing 16; and, as shown in Figs 1 and 2, the conical member engages the bushing in line contact and is otherwise spaced from the bushing. The line contact engagement of the conical member and bushing provides, in enect, a limited universal connection between the conical member and bushing so as to permit self-centering of the bobbin during rotation thereof. Since the depth of the slot 15 is greater than the distance fof the pins below the vided'to permit the parts to become centered, and as the pins are disposed within the slots a positive drive is provided.

In operation the thread or yarn is caught about the bobbin and the spinning operation is carried on in a conventional manner. When the bobbin is filled, the power is shut down and the bobbin dofed in the usual way, it being noted that no interference is offered by the pins 18.

The embodiments shown in Figs. 5 to 13 are, in principle, similar to the embodiment of Figs. l `to 4, and the same or similar reference characters are applied to corresponding parts. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 Ito 7 the conical member 8a carries four radial projections 18a and the upperV part of the bushing 16a is formed with circumferentially spaced slots a. lIn all other material particulars the construction is substantially the same as that of the embodiment of Figs. l to 4, as is also the mode of operation.

In the embodiment-shown in Figs. 8 to l0, a `cylindrical sleeve 20 is secured within the upper part of the bobbin by pins 22 so as -to be coaxial with the bobbin and its lower part is formed with a pair of radially aligned projections or pins 24. The upper part 25 of the blade is conical shaped and formed with a diametrically extending slot 26 which receives the pins 24. Here again the construction and mode of operation is substantially the same las above explained.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 1l to 13 is similar to that of Figs. 8 to 10, except that the lower end of the bushing 20a is formed with four circumferentially spaced slots 26a and a sleeve 28 has a press fit about the reduced upper end of the blade. The upper end of this sleeve is formed with a conical head 30 which carries four circumferentially spaced radial projections 24a which are received in the slots 26a.

In each of the embodiments above described the projections and slots provide a positive driving connection for the centered bobbin, and since there is no slippage between the parts wear is minimized. A further advantage is that the conical members prevent the bobbin from sliding down the blade and hence insure the building up of a correct package.

In each ofthe embodiments herein shown the centering and driving elements are such as to permit a slight universal rocking movement of the bobbin on the blade and thus permit the bobbin to nd its center of rotation. Hence, a bobbin may be driven at speeds exceeding 12,000 r.p.m. without undue vibration. vIt will be further noted v that the construction and arrangement of parts are such `that the centering and driving members may be applied to used bobbins and spindles as well as to new equipment.

While I have shown and described different desirable embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various changes and modications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of lthe invention as set forth in the appended '-claims.

I claim:

1. In a spindle for a spinning machine and the like, a rotatable elongated blade, a tubular bobbin arranged coaxially over the blade in radially spaced relation and projecting axially beyond one ,end of the blade, and a self-centering vertical bobbin supporting driving connection between the bobbin and said one end of the blade disposed within the bobbin adjacent said one end of the blade and comprising a cylindrical bearing member and a conical member, one-of the bearing and conical members being carried by the blade at said one end thereof for rotation therewith, the other of said members being carried by the bobbin for rotation therewith, said one of said members being radially inwardly spaced relative to the bobbin, both of said members extending coaxially of Vthe blade with the conical member tapering toward the bearing member and with one end of said bearing member telescopically extending over a portion of said conical member, the conical member having a base diameter substantially larger than the inner diameter of said bearing member at said one end of the bearing member, said conical member being engaged in line contact with the inner circumferential portion of said bearing member at said one end thereof in nesting frictional driving contact and being ,otherwise spaced from the bearing member to provide a self-centering driving connection between said members, the conical and bearing members being freely engageablewith and freely disengageable from each other in response to axial movement of one of Ysaid members away from the other. Y

2. In a spindle for a spinning machine and the like, a rotatable elongated blade member, a tubular bobbin member arranged coaxially over the blade member in radially spaced relation and projecting axially beyond one end of the blade member, and a self-centering vertical bobbin supporting driving connection between the bobbin member and said one end of the blade member disposed within the bobbin member adjacent said one end of the blade member and comprising a cylindrical metal bushing and a conical metal member, one of the bobbin and blade members carrying the bushing at said one end thereof for rotation therewith, the other of said blade and bobbin members carrying the conical member for rotation therewith, both the bushing and conical member extending coaxially of the blade member with the conical member tapering toward the bushing and with one end of said Vbushing telescopically extending over a portion of said conical member, the conical member having a base diameter substantially larger than the inner diameter of said bushing at said one end of the bushing, said conical member being engaged in line contact with the inner circumferential portion of said bushing at said one end thereof in nesting frictional driving contact and being otherwise spaced from the bushing to provide a selfcentering driving connection between said blade and bobbin members, the conical member and bushing being freely engageable with and freely disengageable from each other'in response to axial movement of one away from the other.

3. In a spindle for a spinning machine and the like, a rotatable elongated blade, a tubular bobbin arranged coaxially over the blade in radially spaced relation and projecting axially beyond one end of the blade, and a self-centering vertical bobbin supporting driving connection between the bobbin and said one end of the blade disposed within the bobbin adjacent said one end of the blade and comprising a cylindrical bearing member and a conical member, the bearing member being mounted coaxially of and on the blades at said one end thereof for rotation therewith and being radially inwardly spaced relative to the bobbin, the conical member being mounted coaxially within the bobbin for rotation therewith, the conical member tapering toward the bearing member and with one end of said bearing member telescopically extending over a portion of said conical member, the comcal member having a base diameter substantially larger than the inner diameter of said bearing member at said one end of the bearing member and being engaged in line contact with the inner circumferential portion of said bearing member at said one end thereof in nesting frictional vdriving contact and being otherwise spaced from the bearing member to provide a self-centering driving connection between said member, the conical and bearing members being freely engageable with and freely disengageable from each other in responseY to axial movement of the bobbin away from the blade.

4. In a spindle for a spinning machine and the like, an upstanding rotatable elongated blade, a rotatable tubular bobbin arranged coaxially over the blade in radially outwardly spaced relation and projecting axially beyond the upper end of the blade, and a self-centering essere vertical bobbin supporting driving connection between the bobbin and said upper end of the blade disposed within the bobbin and adjacent said upper end of the blade and comprising a cylindrical metal bearing member mounted coaxially within and on the bobbin for rotation therewith, said upper end of the blade being provided with a conical portion extending telescopically within the lower end of said bearing member and having a base diameter substantially greater than the inner diameter of said bearing member at said lower end of the bearing member, said conical portion being supportingly engaged in line contact with the inner circumferential portion of said bearing member at said lower end of the bearing member in nesting frictional driving contact and being otherwise radially spaced from the bearing member to provide a self-centering driving connection between said conical member and bearing member and to provide vertical support of the bobbin on the blade, the conical and bearing members being freely engageable with and freely disengageable from each other in response to axial movement of the bobbin away from 10 the blade.

No references cited. 

